Apparatus for soldering



April 14, 1953 E. E. NGFZINGER' APPARATUS Foa soLQERING original Fmg Aug. 21. 1947 -3 ShetS-Shvib 1 lNdIl EARL E. No/:z/NGER INVENTOR.

April 14, 1953 E.; NOFZINGER 2,634,697

APPARATUS FOR soLDERiNG' Original Filed Aug. 21, 1947 ,l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 EARL E. /voFZ/NGER l INVENTOR.

LXW/dm April 14, 1953 E. E. NOFZINGER A2,634,697

APPARATUS FOR SOLDERING Original Filed Aug. 21, 194'? 5 Shee'gs-Sh'eet 3 '/5 no o fas www o EARL. E. NOFZINGER INVENTQR. l

Patented Apr. 14, 1953 2,634,697 APPARATUS Foa soLDERING Earl E. Nofznger, Greenville, Mich.,

Gibson Refrigerator Company,

assignor to Greenville,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Original application August 21, 1947, Serial No.

769,895, now Patent No. her 30, 1951. Divided an 1, 1949Serial N0. 84,867

4 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for soldering two or more metal parts together, and more particularly to clamping devices for holding the parts in proper relationship while heat is applied to melt the solder.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel clamping device for holding relatively large parts together in proper relationship while they are being soldered together.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a clamp formed of spaced apart bars t permit heat to be applied between the bars to the parts to be soldered together.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a clamping mechanism for use in a gas heated soldering machine.

These objects will more fully appear in the following specication, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevational view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the lower clamping member;

Figure 3 is -a fragmentary side elevational View of the same;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the upper member;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the same; and

Figure 6 is an exploded pictorial view showing an arrangement of parts to be soldered together and vstrips oi solder in the relative order in which they are placed together.

The present invention is a clamping device for holding a plurality of parts in proper relationship while they are being soldered together. It is particularly adapted for use in a soldering machine of the character shown in my copending application for a Soldering Machine, Serial No. 769,895, filed August 21, 1947, now Patent No. 2,573,594, of which the present application is a division.

In a general way the clamping apparatus comprising the present invention is composed of an upper clamping member I0 and ya lower clamping member II. In the present case the `clamping members are designed to hold certain parts oi an evaporator for a refrigerator. However, the type oi structure which they are designed to hold is not material.

The specific evaporator `shown comprises an elongated plate I2 having flanges I3 turned up at the ends thereof. Soldered to the plate I2 is a refrigerant conduit I4. The refrigerant conduit is formed of tubing of relatively small crosssection bent into sinuous form, as shown in Figure 6. It will be noted that the plate I2 is planar -tent than the bars II 2,573,594, dated Octod this application April except for the flanges I3. The convolutions of conduit I4 are, therefore, arranged in a common plane so that the conduit can be soldered to the plate I2 in intimate contact therewith.

The lower clamping member is shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3. It comprises a grid of iron bars I5 and I5a of rectangular cross-section. These bars are al1 identical. The bars I5 and 15a are connected together by a pair of transverse rods IB which extend through aligned openings I'I in the bars. The bars are spaced equidistantly from each other by means of short cylindrical sleeves Il placed upon the rods I6 during the assembly of the clamping member. The sleeves I1 are omitted between the bars 15a and are replaced by hooks 21. The hooks 21 are pivotally mounted on the rods I6.

Four rectangular brackets I8 are located between the outermost pairs of bars I5 adjacent the four corners of the clamping member II. The brackets are preferably welded to the adjacent bars I5. Each bracket carries a locating pin I9 which extends upwardly therefrom. Preferably the pins I9 are welded to or made integral with the brackets I8.

The upper clamping member I0 is similar to the lower clamping member. It is shown in detail in Figures 4 and 5. The upper clamping member is composed of a grid of bars 2l] andl 26a of rectangular cross-section. However, the bars 20 and 20a are of relatively greater vertical exin the lower clamping member.l The bars 20 and 20a are provided with aligned apertures 2| extending therethrough to receive a pair of transverse rods 22 for holding the bars together. The bars are spaced apart -by means of short cylindrical sleeves 23 in the s-ame manner as in the lower clamping member. It will be noted that two sleeves are omitted between the two adjacent bars 20a at each end of the lclamping member I0. rThe rods 22 receive the free ends of the hooks 2l to hold the clamping members together.

Adjacent each corner of the upper clamping member are brackets 24. The brackets 24 are preferably welded to the outermost pairs of bars 20 and are provided with apertures 25 to receive the locating pins I9 on the lower clamping member.

The bars 2t and 20a are notched at 2B to receive the upturned anges I3 on the plate l2 when the latter is clamped between the clamping members.

The sizes and spacing of the bars I5, I5a, 25 and 2da are such that the open area through the grids is at least 50% of the total overall area of the grids, thereby permitting the heat from a gas burner or burners to be transmitted to the parts to be soldered. Also, the contact area between the clamping members and the work is relatively small,Y thereby decreasing the cooling eiect of the bars I5, Ia, 20 and Zta.

As above mentioned, it is preferable that the bars I and I5a of the lower clamping member I I be of considerably less vertical extent than the corresponding dimension of the bars 2,0 and '20a in the upper clamping member. It is not essential that there be such a great diiTerence. It is, however, necessary when using the clamping apparatus in the soldering machine of my afore-l said copending application that the lower clamping member II be relatively liexible, while the upper clamping member Ill be quite rigid. In order to conserve material as well as to decrease the weight of the clamping members, the two are made of different vertical extents.

Qneclamping member is rigid while the other is relatively flexible in order that differences in the thickness of the plate I2, as well as diierences in the diameter of the conduit I Il at various points, will not cause the tube to be crushed when the assembled clamping members and parts to be soldered are passed between the rolls of the aforementioned soldering machine. In addition, the flexibility of the one clamping member insures good contact between the parts to be soldered together.

The two parts off the clamping apparatus and the parts to be soldered together are assembled by rst laying the plate I2 on top of the lower clamping member II with the flanges I3 extending upwardly. A coating of flux is painted on the upper surface of the plate I2 and one or more strips of sheet solder 28 are laid upon the plate l2. The strips ZIV are coated with flux and the evaporator tube I4 is then placed in position upon the strips of solder. The upper clamping member IIjis placed in position with the notches 2t receiving the flanges I3 and the apertures 25 in the brackets 24 receiving the locating pins I9. The hooks 21 are then hooked over the rods 22.

In that condition heat canv be appliedy to the parts to be soldered by passing the entire assembly through the soldering machine described in my copending application or in any other suitable,y way, such` as by playing a jet of name over the assembly, or by placing the same in an electric oven. After `the solder has been melted the parts may be cooled by jets of water or by being permitted to cool in the open air. After the solder has been solidified the clamping members can be disassembled and the soldered parts removed therefrom.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel apparatus for hold- Ving the parts together while being soldered. The

grid construction of the clamping members permits ready application of heat and also permits access to the soldered parts of water jets or a stream of air for cooling the same.

The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use in soldering metal parts together comprising upper and lower clamping members, said upper clamping member compris-.- ing a plurality of relatively rigid bars, said bars being of greater thickness perpendicular to the plane than width parallel to the plane of the clamping member, and means connecting said bars together in spaced apart parallel relationship, said lower clamping member comprising a plurality of relatively exible bars of substantially less thickness perpendicular to the plane of the clamping members than the rst menhoned pars and of substantially the same width parallel to said plane as said lrst mentioned bars, and means connecting the bars of said lower clamping member together in spaced apart parallel relationship to each other, and means on the clamping members for securing said members in spaced relationship, one member overlying the other.

2. Apparatus for use in soldering metal parts together comprising upper and lower clamping members, said upper clamping member comprising a plurality of relatively rigid bars and means connecting said bars together in spaced apart parallel relationship, said lower clamping member comprising a plurality of bars. and means 4connecting said bars together in spaced apart parallel relationship to each other, said bars being of substantially less cross-sectional area than the irst mentioned bars, whereby the upper clamping member is relatively rigid and the lower clamping member is relatively exi-blein a direction toward and away from said upper clamping member, and means on the clamping members for securing said members in spaced relationship, one member overlying the other.l

3. Apparatus of the character described in claim 2 wherein the means for securing the clamping members in spacedrrelationshi-p. comprises hooks pivotally connected at one end to one of said clamping members and engageable with the other clamping member..

4. Apparatus of ther character described in claim 2 wherein the clamping members are composed of parallelbars and the spaces between said bars constitute moreV than onehalf of the Voverall I area of the clamping members.

EARL Ei. N OFZIN GER.

References Cited in theleof thispatentV UNITED STATES- PATENTS Number Name Date.

206,193 Perkins July 23, 1878 319,139 Seward June 2, 1,885

2,236,952 Arentsen Apr.V l, 1941 2,443,574 Burns June 15, 1,948 2,451,783 Sweeney Oct. 19, 1948 2,554,297 crossmap, r May 22,' 1951 

